Fallen security guard "always had a smile on his face"

THE death of a security guard at the Gympie Hospital yesterday has left co-workers in shock and mourning a man who "always had a big smile on his face."

Karl Lowrie, a 45-year-old father who was thought to have lived on the Sunshine Coast, died suddenly in the emergency department minutes after a scuffle with a patient, in which he fell to the floor, about 10.30am.

Gympie Ambulance officer in charge Wayne Sachs said Mr Lowrie, who had been working at the hospital for about 12 months, had been loved by staff.

"He was very popular amongst the ambulance staff," he told the Gympie Times.

"He was always there to lend a helping hand when required.

"He was always very helpful and chatty and nice to talk to."

Mr Lowrie's family were comforted by staff when they arrived at the hospital yesterday.

A post-mortem, expected to be carried out today, may confirm the cause of the man's death.